‘Blue Bloods’ Boss Shuts Down O’Reilly’s ‘Woke’ Spinoff Slam
Blue Bloods Showrunner Kevin Wade Supports New Spin-Off Boston Blue Despite Criticism
The Big News in Simple Terms
Imagine your favorite family show ended, but then one character got their own new show in a different city. That’s what happened with Blue Bloods (a show about a family of police officers in New York) and its new spin-off Boston Blue (following Detective Danny Reagan in Boston).
The original show’s creator, Kevin Wade, is cheering for the new show — even though some people are criticizing it.
What Happened? A Simple Breakdown
The Criticism
- Bill O’Reilly (a TV host) called Boston Blue a "woke version" of Blue Bloods
- He said the new show has "every ethnicity in the world" and he "can’t keep track of where these people are from"
- He compared it to the original, which he described as "Irish Catholic traditional down the line"
- He suggested Hollywood executives deliberately made a "woke version" to make money
Kevin Wade’s Response
- Rejected the "woke" label completely
- Said he’s "happy for them" and roots for the show
- Praised Donnie Wahlberg (who plays Danny Reagan) for doing "a terrific job"
- Pointed out the show provides jobs for actors and huge crew teams
Important Point
Kevin Wade believes supporting fellow creators and the many people employed by a TV production is more important than political labels.
How Blue Bloods Handled Issues (The "Secret Sauce")
Wade explained why the original show succeeded for 14 seasons:
- No political agenda — Even though the show featured a white, Roman Catholic, Brooklyn police family (a group that "tends to lean to the right")
- Balanced storytelling — "When we built a soapbox for one side, we tried to make sure to build a soapbox of equal dimensions for the other side"
- No preaching — Viewers "didn’t feel preached to" or told "what to think, or how to think, or what side was the right side"
- Tackled real issues — The show chose to take on many controversial topics during its run
Meet the Cast of Boston Blue
| Actor | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Donnie Wahlberg | Detective Danny Reagan | Reprising his Blue Bloods role |
| Mika Amonsen | Sean Reagan | Recast role (Andrew Terraciano played him in Blue Bloods) |
| Sonequa Martin-Green | TBA | New series regular |
| Ernie Hudson | TBA | Veteran actor (Ghostbusters, The Crow) |
| Maggie Lawson | TBA | (Psych, Lethal Weapon) |
| Gloria Reuben | TBA | (ER, Mr. Robot) |
| Marcus Scribner | TBA | (black-ish) |
Show Status: Renewed for Season 2!
- Premiered: October 2024
- Early Renewal: December 2024 (before Season 1 even finished!)
- Season 2 Premiere Date: October 9, 2025
Summary
Kevin Wade, the creator of Blue Bloods, fully supports the new spin-off Boston Blue. When critic Bill O’Reilly called it a "woke version" focused on diversity instead of tradition, Wade disagreed. He praised star Donnie Wahlberg, emphasized the hundreds of jobs the show creates, and explained that Blue Bloods succeeded because it presented multiple sides of issues without preaching. Boston Blue has already been renewed for a second season arriving October 9, 2025.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
What is a "spin-off"?
A spin-off is a new TV show that takes a character (or characters) from an existing show and gives them their own series. Think of it like a branch growing from a tree trunk.
What does "woke" mean in this context?
It’s a political term often used to describe media that intentionally includes diverse races, genders, sexual orientations, or progressive social themes. Critics sometimes use it negatively; supporters see it as representation.
Why does Kevin Wade care about "jobs for crew"?
A TV show employs way more than just actors — camera operators, lighting technicians, writers, editors, set builders, costume designers, drivers, caterers, and hundreds more. One show = many livelihoods.
Is Donnie Wahlberg the only original cast member in Boston Blue?
Yes. He’s the only main Blue Bloods character who moved to the new show. His TV son Sean is now played by a different actor (Mika Amonsen).
When can I watch Boston Blue Season 2?
October 9, 2025 on CBS. Season 1 aired starting October 2024.
Want to catch up? Blue Bloods ran for 14 seasons on CBS — all episodes are available on Paramount+. Boston Blue Season 1 episodes can be streamed there too!